We the undersigned Ngo`s, parents and concerned citizens of Malaysia, would like to urge Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Education Ministry to keep away international conflicts, middle east conflicts and war away from schools and educational institutions. 

Our schools and education institutions a neutral ground where emphasis is given to quality education premised on human rights and respected for diversity.  This is following over a notice from the Ministry of Education dated 21st October 2023, singles out six proposed activities to be carried out in all schools to demonstrate and observe a solidarity week in support of Palestinians' cause. Ministry of Education and the government should keep international politics (conflicts), religious disputes and war-cries out of schools and education institutions.

We are looking at the seriousness of dragging school children's in becoming part of the global, grown up adult world of protests and not subject young minds getting embroiled in this Middle East crisis or International Conflicts and War. We have seen before how a particular school in Malaysia, very recently, had made its young students to stomp on an Israeli flag. 

On the 27th October, we saw horrifying and shocking images of primary school students carrying toy machine guns, donning headbands, as well as black and white “Palestinians scarf” allegedly linked to the Education Ministry’s “Palestine Solidarity Week” in schools. At the same time another video of similar program at a school was going viral on social media. It shows a procession of adults, possibly teachers, donning garb showing solidarity with Palestine, with some carrying the toy machine guns marching in a school hall while students are sitting down on the hall watching them. Another video emerged in a school in Kedah whereby an adult is seen demonstrating by using a bow and arrow fired up shooting at an Israeli flag burning it down with loud chants watched by the entire school students. 
 
This shows the misalignment of sentiments, condemnation, hatred and prejudices being championed by zealous teachers who are led to believe this is a religious war.  We cannot poison our young children's minds into hatred towards certain race or religion and indulging them into politics.
 
Parents send their children to National type schools, not only for academic progress but also hope for mental and social balance, developing, learning and interacting with other pupils of other races and religious faiths. School is a place for the instilling of moral ethics and values that enrich a multiracial, multicultural and multireligious Malaysian society.

We also remind the Government of Malaysia on the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 17th February 1995 and under Article 29,  "The preparation of the child for responsible life in a free society, in the spirit of understanding, peace, tolerance, equality of sexes, and friendship among all peoples, ethnic, national and religious groups and persons of indigenous origin".

The collective of NGO's and citizens of Malaysia is deeply concerned over this controversial event by a simple administrative ruling without discussions on its appropriateness at Dewan Rakyat or without consulting the parents. We therefore categorically urge the Ministry of Education and the government to keep international politics (conflicts), religious disputes and war-cries out of schools and education institutions. 

We urge all peace loving Malaysians to support this petition as schools and educational institutions should be free from international and religious conflicts, racial and politics as not to mislead the young minds which would cause a long term impact to the future generations of Malaysia.